Lorena Wiebes reacts to Gravel World Championships bronze: “I told Marianne that I did not have the best legs”

In an intense race at the 2024 Gravel World Championships in Belgium, Marianne Vos secured another rainbow jersey, defeating Lotte Kopecky in a thrilling sprint to claim the title. While Vos and Kopecky battled it out at the front, Lorena Wiebes rode a strong race to take the bronze medal, adding another impressive result to her season.

Wiebes, the current European road race champion, admitted that she didn’t feel at her best during the race but was still pleased with her podium finish. “I didn’t have my best legs today, but gravel is also fighting until the end,” she told Wielerflits.

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The Belgian course, made even tougher by Kopecky’s aggressive riding, forced Wiebes into a challenging position between two groups. “Did I enjoy the race? Lotte made the race quite tough, so it was also tough. After that, I ended up between the two groups. I decided to wait for the chasers.”

Despite struggling on one of the climbs, Wiebes managed to regain her strength later in the race. However, without team communication, she faced difficulties coordinating with her competitors. “Lotte rode a bit too hard up a climb, so I had a bad moment. I was with Paladin. I found my legs again, so I attacked. That was the moment I got in between. It was not possible to return, also because I was dropped on the climb. Then the power returned, but that is the disadvantage of riding without communication. Otherwise I could have helped from the front. I had already told Marianne that I did not have the best legs.”

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Despite not being in peak form, Wiebes’ bronze medal performance highlights her resilience and determination, proving once again why she’s one of the most formidable riders in the peloton. With a European championship title already under her belt this season, her strong showing at the Gravel World Championships suggests there could be more to come from Wiebes next year.